Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Education introduced the report which was to consider the outcome of the consultation on proposed changes to the discretionary denominational home to school transport policy.

In November 2012 Cabinet agreed to commission consultation regarding two discretionary aspects of the school transport policy, namely post 16 and transport to denominational schools.  The policy review identified changes intended to produce a fair, equitable and sustainable transport policy.  Consultation was carried out from 1 March to 12 April 2013 and the outcome of the consultation on proposed changes to the post 16 transport policy was considered by Cabinet on 23 April 2013 when it was agreed that the policy be amended to reduce the number of sites to which free school transport was to be provided from September 2013. 

Free school transport was currently provided under the existing policy for pupils to attend their nearest denominational school, subject to meeting the distance criteria.  The proposed change would result in free transport being stopped for pupils who were not of the same denomination as the school, starting with new admissions in September 2014.  Suitable evidence of adherence to the faith of the school might be required to support an application for free transport.  Since denominational schools were “aided” schools and therefore had responsibility for their own admissions, consultation with individual schools would take place to confirm the admission criteria under which pupils were admitted.  Similar proof such as a baptismal certificate or a letter from a priest may be required to prove eligibility for free transport.

Transport policies of several Welsh Local Authorities and many in England either restricted free transport to denominational schools or did not provide it at all and examples were provided.

During the consultation period, a total of 638 responses were received.  The Cabinet Member for Education provided details of many of the issues raised and gave full responses, details of which were contained within the report.

In summary, the Cabinet Member said that Flintshire County Council was seeking to act reasonably in proposing to maintain transport for pupils currently eligible and in future for those pupils who could provide suitable evidence of adherence to the faith of the school and meet the distance criteria.  In addition, he advised that a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document had been produced alongside the consultation and was appended to the report and available on the website.

The Director of Lifelong Learning said the proposal was emotive and he gave assurance that the Council was committed to working closely with the Dioceses and faith schools to achieve the best for the children of Flintshire. 

He added that a Task and Finish Group had been set up by the Lifelong Learning Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the proposals had received cross party support for the recommendations.  Nothing within the proposals affected the responsibilities for admissions or respect for families’ faith within education.  The focus was entitlement for discretionary transport.

The Cabinet Member for Housing supported the recommendations and said parents could make an informed choice for admissions as the proposed change would not take effect until September 2014.

RESOLVED:

            That the proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy as detailed in paragraph 3.01 of the report be approved.